- Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has warned that the Nigerian military faces significant challenges in eliminating bandit enclaves, stating that many hideouts are deep within dense forests, making them difficult to target with aerial strikes due to the risk of collateral damage.
- While acknowledging significant progress, the Minister noted that recent abductions highlight that the threat remains, requiring the government to adjust its strategies against the criminals who operate using guerrilla-style tactics.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has issued a caution regarding ongoing military operations, stating that some bandit enclaves remain difficult to hit with aerial strikes because they are deep inside dense forest areas.
The Minister explained that the complexity of the terrain, coupled with the risk of collateral damage, has limited the effectiveness of certain military bombardments, necessitating a strategic review.
Badaru noted that while the armed forces have made significant progress, recent school abductions confirm that the threat has not fully disappeared. He stated that the government is adjusting strategies to prevent further setbacks, describing the criminals as operating in a guerrilla-style manner:
“These criminals move in ways typical of guerrilla fighters, quiet for a while, then suddenly striking to create panic.”
The Minister elaborated on the difficulty of conducting aerial strikes, even with improved intelligence:
“Yes, we have identified where many of them operate, but certain locations are so thick and shielded that heavy strikes may not reach them without unintended consequences.”
Badaru assured the public that security agencies are reviewing their methods to sustain pressure on the gunmen while avoiding collateral damage. He urged Nigerians to remain patient, insisting that the renewed attacks do not signal a collapse in operations but rather reflect the unpredictable nature of asymmetric warfare.
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